Vanderbilt tight end Turner Cockrell dies of cancer at 21
Vanderbilt tight end Turner Cockrell has died at age 21 after a bout with cancer.
The school announced the news Thursday evening.
“My heart is broken for Randy, Noelle and the Cockrell family, for all of Turner’s teammates, and for all who came in contact with Turner,” Vanderbilt head football coach Derek Mason said in a statement. “Turner had a wonderful spirit and fought an incredible fight. He was a Vanderbilt man through and through, and he will always be remembered here.”
The Vanderbilt community mourns the loss of Turner Cockrell. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cockrell family.https://t.co/XSJnfsLx3O pic.twitter.com/6gY1Votttp
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) November 30, 2018
Cancer spread from his lymph nodes to lungs
Cockrell was diagnosed with melanoma in his lymph nodes in fall of 2017 that spread to his lungs, according to the statement.
He was a medicine, health and society major and is survived by his parents Randy and Noelle, brother Parker and sister Katheryn.
The Commodores dedicated much of their season to Cockrell, wearing helmet decals with his No. 82.
His high school teammate and Citadel football player Brandon Rainey honored Cockrell by wearing No. 82 in a game against Charleston Southern on Thursday.
QB @BRainey_7 will wear #82 tonight to honor high school teammate and current @VandyFootball TE @Turner_Cockrell. pic.twitter.com/ejfQXKzbgP
— The Citadel Football (@CitadelFootball) November 29, 2018
The third-year tight end played primarily on Vanderbilt’s scout team.
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